Wade Barrett was in the ring and welcomed the Denver crowd to Raw. Barrett introduced us to Joe Tessitore. He was thrilled to be a member of the WWE broadcast team. He put over the Denver fans by comparing them to the European crowds they had over the last week. That was a transition meant to send us to a recap of Bash in Berlin.
Gunther, CM Punk, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill were shown arriving earlier today.
Rhea Ripley entered to start the show. She welcomed us to Monday Night Mami. The crowd cheered as she spoke about her win alongside Damian Priest over Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio. They weren’t done yet and it was time for her to regain what she never lost.
Dominik interrupted. He had a black eye. Ripley said nobody wanted to hear him speak so he should get his little girlfriend before she gives him another black eye.
Dom said Morgan was still recovering from what she did to her in Berlin. The crowd told Dom he sucks. Dom said they were taken advantage of in Berlin. They were jetlagged and didn’t get much sleep — thanks to other reasons too. Dom said Morgan wasn’t afraid of Ripley. Morgan beat Ripley before and will beat her again. Dom would win the IC title and they would both be champions.
Ripley, in Spanish, told Dom he was stupid. Ripley wanted Dom to tell Morgan that she would fight her any time, any place.
Morgan tried a cheap shot but Ripley saw it coming and knocked her down. Ripley turned to Dom but the distraction allowed Morgan to attack her from behind. Ripley wound up caught upside down in between the ropes. Morgan booted her leg before kissing her on the cheek.
Priest ran out to assist and the heels bailed. Ripley sold her leg. (I don’t know if this was meant to happen or not but they went with it.)
Chad Gable hyped up American Made backstage. He was sick of the Wyatts. He told American Made they were the best athletes to show up in WWE in ten years. He smacked Juilius Creed and they made their entrance.
After a break, trainers tried checking on Ripley but she screamed at them. Priest urged her to let the trainers assist. Priest said he would talk to Adam Pearce so they could deal with Judgment Day. Ripley agreed to let the trainers assist.
Six-person tag team match: Ivy Nile & The Creed Brothers (w/Chad Gable) defeated Maxxine Dupri, Otis & Akira Tozawa (11:06)
Otis used Tozawa as a weapon against the Creeds. Dupri wiped out American Made with a dive off the top and they went to break. Despite what we just saw, American Made were in control of Tozawa after the break. Tozawa hit a conveniently timed DDT and made the hot tag to Otis who hit Julius with a Caterpillar.
Otis just sort of threw himself at Brutus but Julius broke up the cover. Tozawa gave Julius a German suplex and hit Brutus with a suicide dive. He tried a dive on Julius but Julius caught him and hit an overhead suplex. Otis knocked Julius off the barricade but Brutus knocked him down with a Brutus bomb.
Dupri and Nile tagged in and Dupri gave Nile a Northern Lights suplex. Gable tried distracting Dupri so she knocked him off the apron. The distraction allowed Nile to lock her in a dragon sleeper and Dupri tapped out.
— Gable said he should’ve had a one-on-one classic against Uncle Howdy last week but Howdy used his freaks to get the win. Gable knew what it would take to finish them so he challenged them to an eight-person street fight next week. American Made would get rid of the Wyatts, not just for the fans and the locker room, but for America.
Uncle Howdy interrupted. His sanity crumbled a year ago. The silence in his brain was deafening but he could still hear. His life was no longer his. Gable was gambling his own being, and the Wyatts would collect the debt. The Wyatt Sicks appeared around Uncle Howdy until the lights went out. (He accepted the challenge.)
(I was about to make a note that Otis has not won a match of any kind since leaving Chad Gable. In fact, not including Main Event, Otis has not won a televised match all year. Not on Raw or NXT.)
(I don’t know if it’s his mic or the way he’s annunciating, but Tessitore sounds like he’s speaking at a much lower volume or frequency than the usual commentators.)
Shayna Baszler (w/Sonya Deville & Zoey Stark) defeated Zelina Vega (6:34)
They went to break 90 seconds into the match. Vega hit a moonsault after the break for two. She used a low 619 to knock Stark off the apron and she used a dive to take out Deville. The referee watched this all transpire. As Vega reentered the ring, Baszler just gave her a normal-looking kick and stacked her up for the pinfall win. This was a waste of time.
— Pure Fusion Collective beat up Vega post-match. Lyra Valkyria tried making the save but they laid her out too. Deville grabbed a mic and said there was no one in the back or in the crowd who could take them on. She dared anyone to shoot their shot.
Ripley was in a brace and had a crutch but she told Priest it was just a precaution and she would be fine. Priest spoke to Pearce but was told Finn Bálor would only face him in a tag match. He didn’t have any other friends around here so he couldn’t have a match. The crowd chanted “Yeet.” Ripley told Priest to tell Pearce she had someone in mind. Priest smirked because it didn’t take him long to figure out who she meant.
CM Punk walked through the back and glanced at some Colorado Avalanche championship banners. He’s up next.
Backstage, Vega and Valkyria were pissed, tired of Pure Fusion Collective. They knew they needed a partner and Valkyria noted they were in Calgary next week. She had an idea.
Punk was happy to be in Denver. He couldn’t wait to get home to his wife and dog in Chicago but he had to make a pit-stop in Denver to celebrate with the fans. The strap match was hell and one of the toughest matches he’s had. He meant what he said: it was good to be alive in Denver.
It was good to be on the other side of a personal issue but now it was time to get down to business. That’s what he was, a businessman. He said it before: he wasn’t here to make friends, he was there to make money. He’d take it in cash, direct deposit, or like Patrick Roy in 1996, he’d take it in gold. Punk moved on to Gunther who put Randy Orton, one of the best to ever do it, through hell. Nothing could replace the chip on Punk’s shoulder other than the world title. It was time for Punk to wake up as champion. The crowd chanted for Punk.
Punk congratulated Gunther and told him to enjoy it. “We’re gonna enjoy taking it off of you.” Punk added, “The goal is gold, the target is Gunther.” Punk told Gunther to get used to hearing Cult of Personality.
As Punk posed on the announce desk, he was tripped by Drew McIntyre (in a hood). McIntyre slammed Punk’s head against the table as Barrett got between them. Barrett tried reasoning with him but McIntyre blew by him and hit Punk with a Claymore Kick — knocking one of his Nike shoes off in the process. McIntyre hit another Claymore in the ring. McIntyre grabbed Punk by the arm and booted him in the head as officials tried to stop him. McIntyre warned them to stay away as he removed the bracelet from Punk’s wrist. McIntyre ripped the bracelet apart and Tessitore said he crossed a line we have yet to see. McIntyre shoved the beads from the bracelet down Punk’s throat and hit another Claymore.
Officials finally removed McIntyre from the ring. Pearce frantically called for medics and they brought a damn stretcher to the ring.
— After a break, they carted Punk—now in a neck brace and bleeding from the mouth—through the back on the stretcher toward an ambulance. McIntyre appeared and hammered away at Punk again until he was carried away by officials. Pearce dramatically said to Punk, “Talk to me!” but he didn’t respond.
IC title tournament triple threat match: Ilja Dragunov defeated Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio (10:34)
After an early break, Carlito ran out to attack Dragon Lee. Priest entered to his music and went after Carlito. Dom tried to attack Priest but quickly regretted his decision and bailed through the crowd as Priest chased him. So Dom willingly gave up on a potential IC title shot.
That left Dragon Lee and Dragunov who had a good back-and-forth exchange for a couple of minutes until Dragunov hit Torpedo Moscow for the pinfall win.
Draugnov joins Jey Uso and Pete Dunne in the fatal four-way number one contender’s match.
There was a video package of Bronson Reed (out tonight due to Covid) giving Braun Strowman a Tsunami onto a car last week.
Cathy Kelley asked Pearce about Bronson Reed’s replacement in the IC title tournament. Strowman entered and said he wanted in the match. Pearce said she shouldn’t even be here after what Reed did to him.
Strowman admitted he was banged up (he dramatically raised his shirt to show the ‘damage’ done by Reed but was only partially covered in athletic tape and had no bruising) but medical told him he could go if he wanted to. Pearce was fine with that if Strowman thought he was good to go. Strowman thanked him.
(This was silly. Strowman should have been ruled out, and Pearce even told Kelley there was a locker room full of people who wanted in the match.)
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill entered to watch the upcoming match. They went to break, the teams entered for the match, and they went to break again 70 seconds after it started.
Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre defeated Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane to become number one contenders for the Women’s Tag Team Championships (8:07)
Like the opening match, the babyfaces were in control before the break but the heels were in control with no explanation after the break.
Sane tried to hit Dawn with a diving elbow outside the ring but Dawn pulled Belair in front of her. Sane practically flew past her and crashed into the announce table. Cargill gave Sane a forearm anyway moments later.
Sky fought on her own in the ring but Dawn gave her a cheap shot when the ref wasn’t looking. Dawn and Fyre gave Sky a double-team Gory bomb/flatliner for the pinfall win. This was another nothing match.
— Sane and Sky had a confrontation with the champs post-match.
Sane’s eye was completely red and was busted open pretty bad. She brushed it off and rubbed the blood around like it was nothing while facing off with Belair and Cargill.
Kofi Kingston met with Pearce backstage. He noted that Judgment Day haven’t defended the tag titles in two months and he had a proposition involving him and Xavier Woods. Gunther appeared. He and Kingston gave each other a look before Gunther walked off.
Priest asked Ripley for an update on his potential partner for tonight. Priest asked if he said yes. She said no — he said, “Yeet.” Priest was pleased but still wanted to talk to him first.
Gunther and Sami Zayn segment
Gunther entered. He took credit for Bash in Berlin setting an arena gate record. He beat the greatest version of Randy Orton and the great weekend was just another chapter in his legacy.
Sami Zayn interrupted and he entered to a big reaction. (I haven’t mentioned the crowd much tonight because I feel like the audio has been off but Zayn entered to an unquestionably strong reaction.)
Zayn said people talk about the IC title as the great workhorse title. What people often don’t talk about is that the true greats—Randy Savage, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and his hero Bret Hart—all won the IC title before winning the world title. That’s exactly what Gunther did, “And now, that’s exactly what I am going to do.” Gunther smiled.
Zayn wanted the one title that had eluded him his entire career. He wanted the World Heavyweight title.
Gunther said Zayn was right. Gunther and all of those men stepped up and won the world title. But Zayn stepped down. Zayn was not on that list of great men. That’s why the people liked him. When Zayn was knocked down, he picked himself up and returned to the ring. Gunther was impressed Zayn was challenging him. He saw the fire in his eyes. He told Zayn that if he really wanted this more than anything else: his answer was no.
Gunther left as his music played but Zayn cut it off. Zayn wondered why Gunther was finally backing down from a fight. Zayn said Gunther knew full well that Zayn was the only person who had beaten him in WWE. “I am coming for you and I will be a World Heavyweight Champion.” Gunther left.
(This was a good and logical first step to set up a world title match between these two.)
(Damian Priest and Jey Uso against Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh was made official for tonight.)
Jackie Redmond interviewed Jey Uso. Jey was in the midst of cutting his usual promo when Bron Breakker interrupted. Bron reiterated that a member of Jey’s family would never beat a member of his. Bron was giving him one opportunity to walk away and go after Dom’s sloppy seconds. If Jey went after his title, he would lose.
Jey responded, “Thanks for the advice, rookie.” Jey said Bron had his attention now. Jey would win the tournament, win the title, and beat Bron’s ass.
IC title tournament triple threat match: Braun Strowman defeated Ludwig Kaiser and Sheamus (7:32)
Sheamus and Kaiser went at it outside the ring so Strowman ran them over. He ran after Kaiser but he moved and Strowman crashed through the barricade which led to a break 60 seconds in the match.
Kaiser ran around the ring but Strowman chucked a heavy leather chair at his face. Strowman hit Sheamus with a chokeslam for two. Sheamus fought back by targeting Strowman’s injured midsection. Sheamus hit ten beats but Kaiser hit him with a Finlay roll for two. Kaiser hit an enziguri but Sheamus came right back with a Brogue Kick.
Pete Dunne (who is on Raw, NXT and Speed) attacked Sheamus again with a shillelagh. Strowman gave Kaiser a powerslam for the pinfall win.
The IC title number one contender’s fatal four-way match will be Strowman vs. Jey vs. Dunne vs. Dragunov.
Priest met with Jey backstage. Jey knew what it was like to be Priest. No friends, lost family. But Jey still respected him. Plus, he couldn’t say ‘no’ to Ripley. Priest laughed. Priest and Jey agreed to give Judgment Day a beating for Rhea.
Redmond approached Dunne who was very proud of himself. Redmond asked about what he did to Sheamus. Dunne said she could tell him it was just a message from an old friend. Now he was off to NXT to smash Trick Williams. Redmond asked, “Wait, so I’ll tell him it’s from ‘Butch’?” Dunne told her not to call him that. (Either Redmond was playing dumb or just very dumb.)
Damian Priest & Jey Uso defeated World Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh in a non-title match (14:24)
Believe it or not, Jey hit a dive but was getting beat up anyway after a break. Jey fought back to the sound of “Yeet” and made the hot tag to Priest who went to town on McDonagh and Bálor. Priest knocked McDonagh out of the ring so Bálor hit a slingblade but Priest came back with a thrust kick and clothesline. Bálor countered a chokeslam into a cradle for two.
A cheap shot by McDonagh allowed Judgment Day to take over but Jey made a blind tag. Priest hit a double clothesline and Jey hit a double flying crossbody. Jey superkicked both men and speared McDonagh.
Jey went up for an Uso Splash but Morgan suddenly appeared and crotched Jey on the ropes. Bálor tagged in and hit Jey with a slingblade, dropkick and Coup de Grace. McDonagh tagged in and hit a moonsault but Priest broke up the cover.
Morgan got on the apron to complain and Ripley chose this moment to enter (to her music). Ripley entered with her crutch. Ripley smirked and used the crutch as a weapon. Morgan escaped through the crowd as Ripley chased her away (still limping).
Jey speared Bálor and Priest gave McDonagh a Razor’s Edge. Jey hit McDonagh with an Uso Splash for the pinfall win. Jey posed with Priest and Ripley as the show ended.
Overall: Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
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